Beyond the Foggy Highway by Chris Opperman

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Instrumental Rock | Contemporary

17 tracks | 65 minutes

Released Nov 2005
on Purple Cow Records

Click for a 30-second preview. All tracks are 192kbps high fidelity sound quality. Protected WMA $0.77 or unprotected MP3 $0.88.

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sample "DOWNLOAD" 01:14 The Vampire Lestat BUY MP3 01:14 The Vampire Lestat "GIFT MP3" 01:14 The Vampire Lestat

sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:25 Sad Teenager Wars BUY MP3 04:25 Sad Teenager Wars "GIFT MP3" 04:25 Sad Teenager Wars

sample "DOWNLOAD" 07:49 Miles Behind BUY MP3 07:49 Miles Behind "GIFT MP3" 07:49 Miles Behind

sample "DOWNLOAD" 03:59 Reap the Whirlwind BUY MP3 03:59 Reap the Whirlwind "GIFT MP3" 03:59 Reap the Whirlwind

sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:04 ARRRby's BUY MP3 04:04 ARRRby's "GIFT MP3" 04:04 ARRRby's

sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:49 Balanchine FREE 02:49 Balanchine "GIFT MP3" 02:49 Balanchine

sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:44 In Sophia's Silent Dream BUY MP3 02:44 In Sophia's Silent Dream "GIFT MP3" 02:44 In Sophia's Silent Dream

sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:20 Beware of the Random Factor BUY MP3 04:20 Beware of the Random Factor "GIFT MP3" 04:20 Beware of the Random Factor

sample "DOWNLOAD" 04:27 Taro Lucious BUY MP3 04:27 Taro Lucious "GIFT MP3" 04:27 Taro Lucious

sample "DOWNLOAD" 06:33 Theme from Failure BUY MP3 06:33 Theme from Failure "GIFT MP3" 06:33 Theme from Failure

sample "DOWNLOAD" 05:30 Hitchhiker (Prototype) BUY MP3 05:30 Hitchhiker (Prototype) "GIFT MP3" 05:30 Hitchhiker (Prototype)

sample "DOWNLOAD" 03:29 The Walls are Coming Down BUY MP3 03:29 The Walls are Coming Down "GIFT MP3" 03:29 The Walls are Coming Down

sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:47 Reminisce (When I Was a Baby Universe) BUY MP3 02:47 Reminisce (When I Was a Baby Universe) "GIFT MP3" 02:47 Reminisce (When I Was a Baby Universe)

sample "DOWNLOAD" 02:11 Build a Funky Loop BUY MP3 02:11 Build a Funky Loop "GIFT MP3" 02:11 Build a Funky Loop

sample "DOWNLOAD" 00:27 Don't Forget About Dre BUY MP3 00:27 Don't Forget About Dre "GIFT MP3" 00:27 Don't Forget About Dre

sample "DOWNLOAD" 01:59 Erik is a Very Lucky Man BUY MP3 01:59 Erik is a Very Lucky Man "GIFT MP3" 01:59 Erik is a Very Lucky Man

sample "DOWNLOAD" 06:18 Someone to Watch Over Me/To Return to You BUY MP3 06:18 Someone to Watch Over Me/To Return to You "GIFT MP3" 06:18 Someone to Watch Over Me/To Return to You

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"Beyond the Foggy Highway is one of those albums that's pitched somewhere between rock and jazz, and really shows that Chris Opperman is not only a great player and composer, but a fine improviser and a talented bandleader as well." -- All-Music Guide

Editorial review

Every one of Chris Opperman's releases to this point has had a different focus: the first was a band effort; the second, all solo piano; and the third was nothing but duets. Beyond the Foggy Highway has solo tracks, duets, and full-band efforts, but this time out the unifying factor is that these are all live tracks, recorded between 2001 and 2004. Things start with a bang (actually, the crack of a snare) as Special Opps launch into a full-band improvisation that segues into another intense group improv, "Sad Teenager Wars," which features some nice electric cello from Jen Kuhn. One of the more amazing aspects of both Opperman and his band is that their improvisations are so well done that they're often difficult to pick out amidst fully composed material. They're all great listeners and know how to use silence and space, which is really evident on "Taro Luscious," another fully improvised piece. Opperman duets with guitarist Andre LaFosse on a couple tracks, including the exquisite composition "Miles Behind" and "In Sophia's Silent Dream." With an improvised intro, this was the first time "Miles Behind" was performed, and it's absolutely stunning. Almost worth the price of admission by itself, this is easily one of Opperman's most beautiful and haunting compositions. Another lovely piece is "Balanchine," Opperman's 100th composition, performed solo on a Triton keyboard. With its floating synth tones over beautiful electric piano and harp-like sounds, it's difficult to believe this is a live solo performance. "Theme from Failure" and "Beware the Random Factor" reveal the flip side of Opperman's playing, where he gets fiery and intense. Opperman's playing is fantastic, but the various bandmembers all get some room, too. As mentioned, Andre LaFosse turns in some great guitar solos, while "Hitchhiker (Prototype)" has a very tasteful bass solo courtesy of Isaac Slape and Jen Kuhn has some nice moments on cello. Although the album covers a three-year time span, multiple venues, and several different configurations of musicians, the tight editing and segues and the non-chronological sequencing make the album seem like it's been cut from whole cloth instead of pieced together. Beyond the Foggy Highway is one of those albums that's pitched somewhere between rock and jazz, and really shows that Chris Opperman is not only a great player and composer, but a fine improviser and a talented bandleader as well. ~ Sean Westergaard, All Music Guide

Bio / Background

Award-winning pianist/composer Chris Opperman wastes no time reeling the listener in with his new album "Beyond the Foggy Highway." The album begins with a HUGE crack of the snare drum and drops the listener right into the middle of an intense improvisation between Opperman, futuristic guitarist Andre LaFosse, as well as former Telepathy members Isaac Slape and Kevin Dooley full of the rage and fury that has become just one characteristic of Opperman's live performances.

The album is comprised mainly of tracks from four performances, each representative of a different stage of the evolution of Chris's music over the last few years.